Publication Date: January 2024
The SLOCAT Report on Transport and 2022 Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) analyses in detail how countries are reporting transport measures in their 2022 reviews about the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This eighth edition of the SLOCAT flagship analysis is showing that a number of 2022 VNRs highlight sustainable transport actions in the context of COVID-19 pandemic recovery and the urgent transition to renewables from fossil fuels. However, most 2022 VNRs only describe the adverse impacts of the ongoing crises instead of presenting concrete policy measures. And when they do, the measures do not fully address the urgent systemic transformations necessary to enable equitable access to transport and mobility for all. The report concludes with four recommendations for countries to optimise the use of transport and mobility measures in support of the implementation of the SDGs at the national and sub-national levels.
Key messages:
- 92% of VNRs submitted between 2016 and 2019 reference transport, yet only 30% address its broader sustainability impacts—highlighting a critical gap in integrated policy reporting.
- Countries must adopt long-term, quantified transport targets aligned with sustainable development and climate objectives, moving beyond short-term infrastructure goals.
- The full potential of transport as a cross-cutting enabler of the SDGs—particularly on poverty, equity, and climate action—remains untapped and requires more systemic policy integration.
- The Avoid-Shift-Improve framework offers a robust approach to transform mobility, but remains underused—especially Avoid measures such as land-use planning and travel demand management.
- Voluntary National Reviews can become a powerful tool for advancing low carbon transport, provided they encourage reporting on sustainability outcomes and equity considerations.
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